Economist: I mean it! If there were no taxes, I would have ordered a second soda. But instead, the government intervened, and by increasing transaction costs, prevented an exchange that would have benefited both me and the restaurant.

Engineer: You did order a second soda.

Economist: In practice, yes. But my argument still holds in theory.

The computer scientist lays a smart phone on the table.

Computer Scientist: Okay, I’ve coded a program to help us compute the check.

Mathematician: Hmmph. Any idiot could do that. It’s a trivial problem.

Computer Scientist: Do you even know how to code?

Mathematician: Why bother? Learning to code is also a trivial problem.

155 thoughts on “Math Experts Split the Check”

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Myself and 8 friends went out to another, recently deceased friend’s favirote resturant. I was feeling ill, and ordered only a single drink (for £1) and a single small portion dish (for £4, totalling £5).

Bill came round, I was last to pay, and ended up having to pay £30… Total for all 9 of us was £120.

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The only thing i understand, that there will be chaos and confusion if various experts and specialists joins together and start giving their ideas. The best way should be the experts should be merely a listener and should keep their ideas within!!!!!!

Why did it take twenty years of my life to find this post? So creative and awesome! I recently switched from a physics major to a mathematics major with a minor in management science. This is exactly what I needed to see!

In Australia, tipping is not customary, and all quoted prices are inclusive of tax. So it’s easy to divide the bill.

When I was in California, I tipped the ‘typical’ 15% based on the after tax amount on the bill. Being Australian, I always consider the after tax amount by default. Being Chinese (by birth), I now wonder if I could have gotten away with tipping the 15% on the pretax amount. Lol.

Haha brilliant! Being an engineer turned finance guy, I understood every aspect of this joke and it is hilarious. I was expecting the physicist to pull out something from quantam mechanics and start suggesting the infinite realities, in which no one has to pay. Anyway, great one.

That group needs to sit down for another meal, and this time include a philosopher – so that he can include his logic – and a musician who can use his mathematical knowledge of notes and chords. Throw in an astronomer and it will make for even livelier discussion when the bill arrives.

Computer Scientist: But it does have tax.I would argue that it is generally more legitimate to break the law or to otherwise undertake direct non violent political action in order to challenge entrenched power than in order to reinforce it. best joint supplement

LOVE THIS ! Smart, witty and funny ! I especially love how you didn’t dumb down any professions. They all seem on the same scale with each, their own +/- points ( maybe not the engineer, we’re the best lol). I really enjoy your writing. You should write a book !

I understand every aspect of this joke and it is hilarious. I was expecting the physicist to pull out something from Permanent Embankment Steps mechanics and start suggesting the infinite realities, in which no one has to pay. Anyway, great one.